in front of the withers for lightness of the forehand and well into the rear quarter of the hoof for soundness. Both are desirable qualities for the roles Splash fulfills. Humerus – He shows a
steep rise from elbow to point of shoulder, which aids in lightness of the forehand as well as quickness when lifting the forelegs, which leads to considerable knee action. Elbow – There are no signs
of Splash’s elbow being tight to the ribcage, and therefore neither the range of motion of the foreleg nor his ability to turn sharply or move laterally is affected. Shoulder – Keep in mind
that from top of scapula to knee is all one apparatus (no single part move independently) as
the top of the other hip, it would bisect the LS gap. This area is equivalent to the horse’s transmission and very important for athleticism. Since the power of a driving horse has to come from the hindquarters, good LS placement is essential for an FEI horse. Rear Triangle – Splash’s ilium side (point of hip to point
of buttock) is slightly shorter than his femur side (point of buttock to stifle protrusion), which is a dressage trait since it aids in the ability to load the hocks without undue muscle strain. This trait likely contributes to Weber saying he is “the best dressage leader in the world.” Stifle Protrusion – His stifle protrusion is just at the
bottom of sheath level, another dressage trait, since it allows for sustained compression of the hindquarters without restricting range of motion. Also, as you may have noticed, Splash toes out slightly behind. This is not a fault, it is actually the norm. This construction turns the stifle out slightly, ensuring the full range of motion of the hind leg, which is also important for his job. Weber concurs, stating that the KWPN gelding has good length of stride, which allows him to contribute to the team as a wheel horse in the marathon and cones phases in addition to his role as a dressage leader. Pillar of Support – The line extended through the naturally occurring groove in the forearm emerges well
you envision Splash rotating his scapula back (notice the range of motion he is capable of). As his scapula comes back, the point of shoulder rises, the elbow moves forward and so does the forearm, giving him excellent reach. Base of Neck – Even though he has a very high point of
shoulder, his base of neck well above his point of shoulder, making him even lighter on the forehand, which equates with being easier on his forelegs and his back (less weight to lift). As you may have noticed, he appears to toe out on the forelegs, but, because he is so light on the forehand and has a pillar that emerges well into his heel, he puts little undue strain on his forelegs. A horse with perfectly straight legs that is heavier on the forehand would be more susceptible to soundness issues. Overall – Splash is built to do his job with ease, which may explain why Weber says he “gets bored.”
About Judy: Judy has researched equine conformation for 30 years and has written three books on the subject (the most recent, an e-book). She travels worldwide giving conformation clinics for all disciplines. Judy also analyzes individual horses based on photos and gives breeding consultations. Learn more at
www.jwequine.com.
Warmbloods Today 39
My Weber
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100